Whether it is the weather tricking the plants into flowering after a dormant period due to heat and drought, or whether it is simply because here in my new garden new plants are enjoying sheltered and frost free conditions...I have been able to collect a few flowers this morning for our IAVOM.
With the sun shining this morning, the Winter Flowering Jasmine nudifolium on the shady side of the fence is a bright accent which is repeated further down the garden by the still flowering nasturtiums. In China where is originates Jasmine nudifolium's Chinese name means Flower that Welcomes the Spring.
The white starry flower with small yellow centres is Potato Vine Solanum laxum 'Album'. I picked up a small plant last year at Morrisons, and planted it out this spring after some tlc. Its doing nicely, and is part of my creating some shade plan.
The blue is from a little low growing campanula which my neighbour gave me.
The bronze fennel after a close cropping is flowering on low stems...it may not last the day and end up chopped up on my lunchtime salad!
Fuchsia Hawkshead is proving a good addition to the border, and is teeming very nicely with some 'supermarket cyclamen', a present from a lunch guests. These are the larger indistinct blob at the back, the leaf is however from one of my species cyclamen.
I love cyclamen, and on holiday in the various Mediterranean Islands and also in Italy, I enjoy looking out for them on my walks. Recently in a garden I found some seeds beneath a well patterned plant, and guess what? They are now sprouting in a little pot of compost.
Some people love cyclamen, others dislike them. How do you feel about them?
Very pretty and so springlike too. I haven't checked out my winter flowering jasmine recently - hope it is flowering like yours. Pretty vase too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty arrangement! I love cyclamen, especially the hardy ones. Their blooms are very sweet and spangle the dry shade where other plants dare not grow and the gorgeous foliage brightens the winter garden.
ReplyDeleteWhat an intersting learning curve finding out about the conditions in your new garden, Noelle - if it is sheltered it increases your options. Such a pretty little vase too - Hawkshead is a hardy fuchsia, isn't it, and how nice to have these other little beauties to add to it. Personally I am not especially keen on the larger 'indoor' cyclamen, but I do like the smaller species ones and my! how they spread!
ReplyDeleteLike you the smaller outdoor ones are the keepers...Mr S and I love looking out for them on our hols in the med...but I have been very good and have never brought any even their seed back.
DeleteOh that's most pleasing colour combination Noelle. Are you still waiting for the first frost? I like cyclamens especially the varieties with smaller flowers.
ReplyDeleteWe had a frost on top of the car a couple of weeks ago, but none in the back garden. There is a stone wall facing west in the back which gives a lot of protection there. Yes on the cyclamen, the ones cut for the vase won't be staying in the garden....as l much prefer the species.
DeleteWhat a beautiful bunch of flowers....miss mine. I love cyclamen and hope to rescue mine from the weeds.
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely. The yellow, purple and lots of white work so well together. I enjoy cyclamen, almost posted some in my vase today but they weren't quite open.
ReplyDeleteThat is one of my very favorite color combinations, Noelle, and I don't mind seeing it in any season. In fact, I used blue and white (including the very same fuchsia) in one of my vases this week. I wish I could say my Fuchsia 'Hawkshead' was teeming with flowers but, for the moment, I'm just happy it's survived its first few weeks in my garden, especially as it faced multiple bouts with our miserably dry Santa Ana winds.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty. I like cyclamens.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra....everyone seems to like them....maybe those that don't don't want to stand out by admitting they don't...but I do have a friend who is a very good gardener who does't like them!
DeleteLovely to find such pretty treasures and such bright colours. I noticed my Jasmine was flowering too which I thought was a bit early. I just need to remember to prune it this year so it will be a better shape.
ReplyDeleteLove Cyclamen. Especially the leaves!
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